another sitter question

[thiswillbe]

How far in advance do you schedule a sitter (just for a random night out/date night)? One of the reasons we haven't had a date night in 6+ months is that we don't ever really think about it until it's the week before, and by then we feel like it's too late to ask a sitter. We don't tend to schedule our weekends weeks in advance, but maybe we need to? What do you do?

[ct]

Sometimes we plan in advance, and sometimes its us shooting the sitter a text on Monday to see if she's free on Friday. Of course, we have better luck with availability if we ask more in advance, but still no harm in checking last minute. If she doesn't want to do it, or it isnt enough notice for her, she'll just say no.

[awkwardpenguin]

A week out is fine if you have an established relationship with the sitter. Worst that happens is she's not available. In my old sitting jobs, I've done even shorter notice happily if I was available.

[twotrue]

Depends. I had someone booked for the Kenny Chesney concert the day I bought tickets (months in advance) and I in February I had someone booked for the end of April. But for other things it's sometimes just a couple of days in advance. We usually have 2-3 different people we can call though so that helps.

[twomoms2twins]

we used to be way last min like day of ... it was hit or miss now that our lives revolve around AA and ALANON meeting and I am just so disgusted by all this I pretty sure we wont need a sitter for date night for a while. But we do need her when our meetings co-inside but I can always not go to my meeting where as its Imperative that DW goes.

[2brides]

It really depends. Typically, we are scheduling because we have something specific we need to go to (wedding/work function/etc) so it is a few weeks out. I don't think we've ever spontaneously called a sitter (not that we really have anyone to call at this point!)

When I used to babysit (way back when) it was always a mixture of last minute calls (happy to earn the money if I was available) and advance planning.

[kershnic]

Especially if you have a few choices it never hurts to call and ask. Most people who babysit like getting the extra money when they can. When I used to babysit for random nights it was anything from a few weeks or months ahead to the day of. A week ahead is plenty notice. Just make it clear that you're checking if they're available, not asking them to rearrange their schedule for you.